Robert John Shirer

Robert John "Bob" Shirer, after living a very active, love filled 90 years, passed from this life to the next on November 16, 2025, having earned his eternal reward. He was born in New Orleans on January 17, 1935, the seventh of nine children and the fifth son of Irwin Newton Shirer and Emily Harris Shirer. He was the brother of Marie, Emily, Irwin "Beanie", Joseph "Joe", Richard "Richie", Frederick "Fred", Joan and Lois Shirer. The Shirer boys were known for playing all kinds of sports in the Square on Napoleon Avenue behind their home. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes School where in fifth grade he met and became the boyfriend of his future wife Margaret Ellen "Margie" Newport.

He attended Jesuit High School where he played baseball, basketball, and football, and graduated in 1954. He attended Louisiana State University until he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1956, where he served as an aerial photographer. In 1957, while on a brief leave, he married his childhood sweetheart, Margie. He was then stationed in French Morocco before returning to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.He came home to New Orleans in 1961 to run the casket business which has been in the Shirer family for several generations. Thereafter, he provided devoted service to the New Orleans funeral industry for over 60 years. The Louisiana Funeral Directors Association honored him for his devotion with a Lifetime Achievement Award this year.

He is the loving father of Ellen Shirer Kovach (Brent), Patricia Clare Shirer (Rita Winters), Robert John Shirer II (Lynn Rome), Anne Margaret "Peggy" Shirer Schott (Kevin), William Gray "Billy" Shirer (Amy Nemanich) and Christopher Newport Shirer (Ashley Gutterman). He is the beloved grandfather of Lynell Shirer Johnson, Damien Olenslager, Eden Olenslager Ybarbo, Mary Schott Vitter, Katherine Kovach Arace, Heidi Schott Neidig, Meredith Kovach Karlin, Grace Kovach, Eric Schott, Kay Shirer, Eleanor "Ellie" Shirer, Presleigh Stewart, Marigny Shirer and Magnolia Shirer. He is the beloved great grandfather of Adelynn Johnson, Audrina Olenslager, Emmeline Olenslager, Tucker Neidig, Brody Neidig, Eliza Karlin, George Vitter, Porter Neidig, Emilia Karlin, and Roger Vitter.Bob's greatest passions were his family and his work. He loved travel, golf, skiing, watching his son Billy play music and his daughter Peggy act, and socializing with his many friends and family. He ultimately moved from New Orleans to Diamondhead where he lived on the golf course and attended daily mass at the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He always enjoyed building. He obtained his contractor's license and built several houses including a family home in Crested Butte, Colorado. Until his final days, he was physically renovating a house he had recently purchased in Metairie, to be closer to family. He was greatly loved by his family and all who knew him. He will be terribly missed. To his children he was known as the man who fixes the moon. But no worries, we are certain he will continue to do so.

A Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, beginning at 9 AM with a Funeral Mass to follow at noon at Jacob Schoen and Son Funeral Home, 3827 Canal Blvd., New Orleans. Interment will be at Lake Lawn Cemetery.